Dawn French is back with a bang in Can You Keep a Secret?, the deliciously deceptive 6-part crime sitcom that has critics calling it “brilliant” and the perfect binge to ring in the New Year. Now streaming on BritBox, this sharp, darkly funny series proves French remains one of Britain’s most irresistible comic forces.
Written by award-winning playwright David Cantor and directed by Mandie Fletcher (Blackadder, Absolutely Fabulous), the show centres on the seemingly ordinary Hargreaves family, headed by French’s matriarch Valerie — a woman with an uncanny knack for “helping” people that often involves bending the truth, forging documents, and occasionally dipping into fraud.
Mark Heap (Friday Night Dinner, Green Wing) plays her mild-mannered husband Brian, who believes he’s married to a harmless busybody, while Craig Roberts (The Story of Tracy Beaker, Submarine) stars as their anxious adult son Jamie, who begins to suspect his mum’s community volunteering hides something far more sinister.
What starts as a gentle family comedy quickly spirals into a web of deception when Jamie stumbles upon evidence of Valerie’s elaborate scams — from fake charity drives to identity theft — all carried out with cheerful efficiency. As secrets unravel, the family is forced to confront how far they’ll go to protect one another, blending laugh-out-loud moments with genuine suspense.
French, in a role tailor-made for her impeccable timing, delivers a performance that’s both hilarious and unnerving. “Valerie is the kind of woman you’d invite for tea — and then discover she’s quietly emptied your bank account,” French joked in a recent interview. Heap’s bewildered Brian and Roberts’ increasingly panicked Jamie provide perfect foils, creating a dysfunctional trio that feels oddly familiar.
Critics have hailed the series as “a story of an odd little family you haven’t met yet, but that you already know.” The Guardian awarded it four stars, praising its “deceptive lightness” and “genuinely surprising twists.” Radio Times called it “the perfect antidote to heavy holiday viewing — funny, clever, and just dark enough.”
With only six tight 30-minute episodes, Can You Keep a Secret? is designed for binge-watching, making it the ultimate New Year watchlist addition. Whether you’re recovering from festivities or seeking something fresh, this deceptive delight offers laughs, gasps, and plenty of “did she really just do that?” moments.
Dawn French has done it again — proving that even in the darkest comedy, she remains an absolute national treasure.
